Philadelphia man jailed for role in multi-county cocaine ring

NORRISTOWN — Prosecutors and a judge have put an end to the drug dealing days of a Philadelphia personal trainer who conspired with his Montgomery Township brother to operate a multi-county cocaine trafficking ring.

Michael F. Dennis, 36, of Earl Street, showed no emotion Monday as he was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to a total of 18-to-36 years in state prison in connection with the cocaine ring that targeted Montgomery, Chester and Philadelphia counties between November 2008 and April 2011.

“He is a significant danger to society,” Judge William R. Carpenter said about Dennis as he imposed the punishment.

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The sentence included some consecutive mandatory prison terms that were requested by prosecutors based on the weight of the cocaine involved in the drug transactions.

“Michael Dennis is a career drug dealer. It’s what he does. He’s worked hard his whole life at that. His entire life has built up to this moment. It’s what he’s earned,” Assistant District Attorney Jason W. Whalley said to the judge while arguing for a lengthy state prison sentence against Dennis. “He’s wreaked havoc on southeastern Pennsylvania. Send him into retirement.”

In January, a jury determined Dennis conspired with his Montgomery Township brother and Chester County barber, Anthony Dennis Sr., to operate the cocaine trafficking ring. Michael Dennis was convicted after a five-day trial, of charges of corrupt organizations, possession of cocaine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine, conspiracy and criminal use of a communications facility.

Anthony Dennis, 41, of the 100 block of Thames Drive, Montgomery Township, pleaded guilty to the same charges in January before jury selection began for his trial. Anthony Dennis, who remains free on 10 percent of $1 million bail pending sentencing, potentially faces decades in prison on the charges.

With the charges, authorities alleged the Dennis brothers engaged in the sale of large quantities of cocaine to various individuals including cocaine dealers in Montgomery County.

Anthony Dennis operated the “Heads Up” barbershop in the 900 block of Upper Gulph Road near Wayne, Chester County, during the time he also operated the corrupt organization, authorities alleged.

Defense lawyer James Lloyd, who represented Michael Dennis, asked the judge not to impose consecutive mandatory prison terms against Dennis, hoping for no more than a 7-to-14 year prison term. Lloyd implied Michael Dennis’ role in the drug ring was limited.

“He is able to live a good life. He is able to be rehabilitated. He was a good, hardworking laborer,” Lloyd argued, referring to Michael Dennis’ job with a construction firm while free on bail.

But Whalley argued Michael Dennis was one of the “top dogs” in the organization.

“He was a partner in this organization. He had access to the barbershop…and he and his brother were equal partners in this organization,” Whalley maintained.

The Dennis brothers were among 27 people arrested in 2011 as part of an investigation dubbed “Operation Heads Up,” in connection with their alleged involvement in the corrupt organization.

During the investigation of the Dennis brothers, simultaneous raids by 72 law enforcement officers at 21 locations in the three counties on May 18, 2011, resulted in the seizure of four pounds of cocaine with a street value of $204,800, 14 vehicles, a 19-foot-long fishing boat from a storage facility in Collegeville, more than $76,000 in cash and 12 firearms, according to authorities.

The investigation began in November 2008 in Tredyffrin as township police and members of the Chester County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Task Force investigated the barbershop as an alleged hub of the cocaine trafficking operation. A detective testified on Monday that Michael Dennis “plagued the community” for many years.

The arrests were the culmination of a wiretap investigation into the activities of those involved in the drug ring.

“This conviction was the result of all the hard work of the different law enforcement agencies involved,” said Whalley, who was assisted by co-prosecutor Tonya Lupinacci.